[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 220 (Friday, November 13, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72630-72632]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25148]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

RIN 0648-XA611


Atlantic Highly Migratory Species; Advisory Panel

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; solicitation of nominations.

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SUMMARY: NMFS solicits nominations for the Atlantic Highly Migratory 
Species (HMS) Advisory Panel (AP). NMFS consults with and considers the 
comments and views of the HMS AP when preparing and implementing 
Fishery Management Plans (FMPs) or FMP amendments for Atlantic tunas, 
swordfish, sharks, and billfish. Nominations are being sought to fill 
approximately one-third (10) of the seats on the HMS AP for 3-year 
appointments. Individuals with definable interests in the recreational 
and commercial fishing and related industries, environmental community, 
academia, and non-governmental organizations are considered for 
membership on the HMS AP.

DATES: Nominations must be received on or before December 14, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may submit nominations and requests for the Advisory 
Panel Statement of Organization, Practices, and Procedures by email to 
[email protected]. Include in the subject line the following 
identifier: ``HMS AP Nominations.''

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Cooper at (301) 427-8503.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Introduction

    The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act 
requires the establishment of an AP for each FMP for Atlantic HMS, 
i.e., tunas, swordfish, billfish, and sharks. 16 U.S.C. 1854(g)(1)(A)-
(B). Since the inception of the AP in 1998, NMFS has consulted with and 
considered the comments and views of AP members when preparing and 
implementing Atlantic HMS FMPs or FMP amendments.

Procedures and Guidelines

A. Nomination Procedures for Appointments to the Advisory Panel

    Nomination packages should include:
    1. The name of the nominee and a description of his/her interest in 
HMS or HMS fisheries, or in particular species of sharks, swordfish, 
tunas, or billfish;
    2. Contact information, including mailing address, phone, and email 
of the nominee;
    3. A statement of background and/or qualifications;
    4. A written commitment that the nominee shall actively participate 
in good faith, and consistent with ethics obligations, in the meetings 
and tasks of the HMS AP; and
    5. A list of outreach resources that the nominee has at his/her 
disposal to communicate qualifications for HMS AP membership.
    Qualification for membership includes one or more of the following: 
(1) Experience in HMS recreational fisheries; (2) experience in HMS 
commercial fisheries; (3) experience in fishery-related industries 
(e.g., marinas, bait and tackle shops); (4) experience in the 
scientific community working with HMS; and/or (5) representation of a 
private, non-governmental, regional, national, or international 
organization representing marine fisheries, or environmental, 
governmental, or academic interests dealing with HMS.
Tenure for the HMS AP
    Member tenure will be for 3 years, with approximately one-third of 
the members' terms expiring on December 31 of each year. Nominations 
are sought for terms beginning January 2021 and expiring December 2023.

B. Participants

    Nominations for the HMS AP will be accepted to allow representation 
from commercial and recreational fishing interests, academic/scientific 
interests, and the environmental/non-governmental organization 
community, who are knowledgeable about Atlantic HMS and/or Atlantic HMS 
fisheries. Current representation on the HMS AP, as shown in Table 1, 
consists of 12 members representing commercial interests, 12 members 
representing recreational interests, 4 members representing 
environmental interests, 4 academic representatives, and the 
International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) 
Advisory Committee Chairperson. NMFS seeks to fill 5 commercial, 3 
recreational, 1 academic, and 1 environmental organization vacancies 
for terms starting in 2021. NMFS will seek to fill vacancies based 
primarily on maintaining the current representation from each of the 
sectors. NMFS also considers species expertise and

[[Page 72631]]

representation from the fishing regions (Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, 
Southeast, Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean) to ensure the diversity and 
balance of the AP. Table 1 includes the current representation on the 
HMS AP by sector, region, and species with terms that are expiring 
identified in bold. It is not meant to indicate that NMFS will only 
consider persons who have expertise in the species or fishing regions 
that are listed. Rather, NMFS will aim toward having as diverse and 
balanced an AP as possible. The intent is to have a group that, as a 
whole, reflects an appropriate and equitable balance and mix of 
interests given the responsibilities of the HMS AP.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TN13NO20.001

    Five additional members on the HMS AP include one member 
representing each of the following Councils: New England Fishery 
Management Council, the Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the 
South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery 
Management Council, and the Caribbean Fishery Management Council. The 
HMS AP also includes 22 ex-officio participants: 20 representatives of 
the coastal states and two representatives of the interstate 
commissions (the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission and the 
Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission).
    NMFS will provide the necessary administrative support, including 
technical assistance, for the HMS AP. However, NMFS will not compensate 
participants with monetary support of any kind. Depending on 
availability of funds, members may be reimbursed for travel costs 
related to the HMS AP meetings.

C. Meeting Schedule

    Meetings of the HMS AP will be held as frequently as necessary but 
are routinely held twice each year. In recent years, meetings have been 
held once in the spring, and once in the fall. The meetings may be held 
in conjunction with public hearings.


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    Dated: November 9, 2020.
Jennifer M. Wallace,
Acting Director, Office of Sustainable Fisheries, National Marine 
Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-25148 Filed 11-12-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P